Kahn is insisting that he intends to keep both Rubio and Flynn, despite a variety of obstacles. In an open letter to Timberwolves fans, Kahn raved about Rubio as “a virtuoso” — “like an orchestra conductor with the basketball.”

“He will be our starting point guard here the moment he walks through our front door,” Kahn wrote in the letter, which appeared on the St. Paul Pioneer Press Web site. “We may have to wait a year, or even two, but he is worth the wait. We must be patient.”

The Timberwolves can afford to wait. Under N.B.A. rules, they own Rubio’s draft rights in perpetuity. They may actually benefit from Rubio’s playing in Europe for another year or two.

Although Rubio is a playmaking prodigy — with passing skills reminiscent of Pete Maravich — he needs work. Rubio is regarded as inefficient with the ball and a poor shooter. At 6 feet 4 inches and 180 pounds, he needs to add some muscle to his lithe frame.

By this time next year, Rubio could be much closer to N.B.A.-ready, and an even more valuable trading chip, assuming he refuses to play in Minneapolis.

Knicks officials believe that Rubio wants to play in New York, although that will probably have little bearing on the Timberwolves’ decision.

The Knicks made several attempts to move up in the draft in the past week, hoping for a shot at either Rubio or Davidson’s Stephen Curry. They just missed on Curry, who was taken seventh by the Golden State Warriors.